Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1887-09-23
THE STATE AND coryTr FAIR

The Oreqoaian has so well spoken
our sentiments about the State fair,
and they are SO applicable to our
county fair, that we publish the article
entire. The State fair ought to be held
at Portland, and so should the county |
fair be held at Roseburg. The prices
of admission should be reduced at both |
places and ladies should not pay a
cent. Tile State fair should advertise,
and cease iudulging the opinion that
people will come whether they know it
or not. Premiums should be given on
small articles and not all given to the
horse race.
1.-The twenty-seventh annual fair at
Salem under the management of the
State Agricultural Society ended on
Saturday. In some respects it was
the best fair Of recent years. The
exhibit of agricultural products were
better than usual, and there was more
variety in the entertainment for visit
ors. But the great feature was the
race track. The field of speed horses
was large and the "sport" was fine
from the beginning to the close. AS
to the morality of racing and tho
things that seem inseparable from it
there is wide difference Of opinion, and
since discussion comes to nothing the
subject may as we'll be left alone.
On another ground, the speed depart
ment of the fair is criticised unjustly
by those who declare that the managers
give up too much money to it. AS a
matter of fact, the races more than pay
for themselves. The receipts for en-
tries in the various races, the gate at
the grand stand and the sale Of the
pooling privilege brought in a sum
more than equal to the sum paid in
racing premiums. Besides this, at
least half Of the attendance upon the
fair was attracted especially by the
races. The races are necessity to the
fair. Without them it could not main.
tain itself at all. Whether or not it is
worth maintaining aud whether its
influences are for better or for worse
are matters which must be considered
with the races Included, since without
them the fair would certainly fail.
In its finances the recent fair was
entirely successful The receipts and
expenditures have not yet been figured
up, but it is known that the former
are in excess to the latter. The sur
plus, which will not be large, with til {
subsidy of $4,000 from the state viii
enable the society to pay another large
installment on its debt, which il
another year or two ought to be cleared
up entirely.
The management of the fair could b.
greatly improved by more liberia
policy. The cost of admission ($2.5(
for the season for men; 81 for womel
and daily entrance 81 is so high as t.
limit attendance. Rates ought to b.
reduced at least one-half. On tn
other hand greater effort should b
made to attract attendance. A hbal
alityA costing nothing, would have sc
cured a full regiment of militia fror
Portland on one day and the grea
Barrett circus for the whole week, an
presence of these attractions woul
have drawn at least three thousan
people who staid away. Since the SUI
cess of fair depends upon the after
dance, no pains should be spared t
make it popular.
Since it is the truth not to be di.
puted, we cannot refrain from sayin
again that the fair is held at th
wrong place. In Salem it must be al
out door exhibition subject to th
chances of tho weather, and taking on
year with another there will be on
failure IN three. Furthermore, at Ss
lem the hotel capacity is limited, ther
are no local attractions to speak Of, an
not population enough to give the fai
profitable local support. Since tn
State fair claims to be general in chal
acter and to represent the whole stat,
it should be held at the largest cente
of population, at the place easiest c
access, of most local attractions, wher
the means of entel tainment are sufi
cient for all comers, where it woul
not be greatly affected by unfavorabl
weather and where there is a lara
population TO give it patronage an
support. Political managers hay
learned BY experience that a convel
ton held at the center of population an
business, Portland, is always we'll
tended, while convention held an,
where else is always full of proxie
So it is with all popular assemblage
At Portland the fair would always
certain of success, good weather or bac
as an institution of public interest an
value and financially as well. We sa
this not in the spirit of local selfshnes
but because it is an evident trutl
Portland has small need of the fair an
if it could prosper as well or eve
maintain itself at Salem we woult
rather it would stay there.
Every year emphasizes the necssit
for general superintendent, used t
the management Of Big enterprises an
endowed with full authority. Such a
oftcer, qualified to organize the fair
advance, to advertise it in efectiy
ways and then to manage it woul
earn his salary many times over"